10/03/2025
Official Apostolic Transition Announcement
Universal Ministries Worldwide Assembly
With solemn reverence and apostolic authority, we announce the sacred transition of our beloved Chief Apostle, His Grace William Melvin Payne, who has been summoned from labor to reward, from the land of the dying to the land of the living. On this day, we bow in holy remembrance, acknowledging that:
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” — Psalm 116:15
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” — 2 Corinthians 5:8
Apostle Payne was a father in the faith, a prophetic voice to nations, and a pillar in the apostolic reformation. His mantle was weighty, his wisdom profound, and his embrace—transformative. When I arrived in Indianapolis, led by the Spirit, it was Apostle Payne who first received me. He opened his pulpit, spoke into my destiny, and whispered heaven’s counsel into my ear. My life bears the fruit of his obedience.
He was not merely a man of God—he was a movement. A universal apostle whose reach extended beyond borders, whose love covered generations, and whose voice thundered with divine clarity. His departure leaves a sacred vacancy, yet his legacy remains etched in the foundation of Universal Ministries Worldwide Assembly and in the hearts of those he fathered, mentored, and commissioned.
We mourn, but not as those without hope. We rejoice, for he has entered the joy of the Lord. We honor, for he fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. And we declare:
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds follow them.’” — Revelation 14:13
To the Universal Ministries Worldwide Assembly, we extend our prayers and prophetic comfort. May the oil that flowed from Apostle Payne’s life continue to anoint the generations to come. May his mantle rest upon worthy shoulders. And may his voice echo in the corridors of heaven as one who pleased the Lord.
Rest well, Apostle. I will see you in the morning.
With apostolic love and eternal honor,
Dr. Herbert McClain
Founder, Prophetic Word of Faith International Ministries
CEO, Encourager TV
Visionary, Herbie Mac School of Divinity
